REPATRIATION

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 119, 5 February 1923, Page 4

REPATRIATION

z; • - .. ' A PROGRESS REPORT

• The,fclii wing report has Keen issued by/the Repatriation Department: — The cessation of benefits under the Repatriation-Act took effect from December 31 last, and up to that date the Department had rendered assistA ance to 63,108 discharged soldiers, at a total cost of £2,329,992, the following t table indicating the number assisted under the various categories and the cost:—

The Department has placed 28,668 discharged soldiers in employment. The total amount paid out as sustenance to unemployed soldiers is £5577 This works out at one shilling and fourpence per demobilised soldier, and if. a phenomenally low figure compared with the' standard of other countries. Training.—Partially disabled soldiers, apprentices, etc., to the number of 7538, have been trained in new trades or occupations at a cost or £397,619 ; 7478 traint/s have completed their courses, and 91 per cent, of these graduated into employment. The majority of the 9 per cent, who-discon-tinued' before graduating did so on acepunt of’ill-health —the percentage of ''unsatisfactory” cases being negligible. There are now only 60 men jn training, and most of these will complete during' the next few months. The average cost per trainee (taking credit successes only) is £55. Altogether, New Zealand’s record in connection with training, in relation to the individual cost, th® proportion of successes to failures, sod the liberality of income during the train'ugr period, is a good one The Department'* las granted. 6366 loans to discharged soldiers to estab lish business at n cost of P 1,160.5-36-and ( an additional 15.915 men have received advav-es nmounhng to £758,626 for !hp purchare <T himw to set up homes. The reos.'-'wiort of remarkably good, and the Department has already collected ,£1,190.748, -w 60 per rent, vf the total ‘-oan advsnr.es; TTSO business loans and 3052 furniture loans have been entirely <,-pai'l.

Nature of assistance. Number Amount. Loans — assisted. £ Business '6,366 1,160,536 I’umiture, tools, 758,626 etc 15,915 Grants — Training, sustcn397,619 ance, etc 7,539 Transportation ... ■3,498 a 7,634 Unemployment sub - ' 5,577 tenanco 1.123 Placed in employment 28,668 t - Total ....... 63,108 £2,329,992